Insect-proof and tamper-evident cover for beverage container

ABSTRACT

An insect-proof and tamper-evident cover is disclosed for a disposable, metal, one-time use beverage container. A lid, non-rotatably secured to the upper end of the beverage container, includes an opening with bars formed there-across, and with a plurality of cover-supporting bumps and a position-controlling groove. A rotatable cover is secured to said lid in a fluid-tight arrangement. The cover includes an opening with bars there-across, at least one finger-engaging member, a tamper-evident indicator, and a projection arranged to travel in the position-controlling groove of the lid.

This is a continuation-in-part application of patent application Ser.No. 08/049,764, filed Apr. 19, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,432.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well-known in the art of beverage containers to provide soft drinkcans and beer cans with metal tops, and these usually have a pull-ringdevice by which the user of the can gains access to the contents. Thepull-ring is generally disposed or, in some cases, can be bent inwardlyinto the can so as to provide a fluid-accessible opening. Unfortunately,when such a container is opened and the contents partially consumed,quite often bees, wasps, mosquitoes, flies or other insects areattracted to the sugar-sweet contents and enter the container unnoticed.Thereafter, when the contents are consumed, the user quite oftenswallows and is injured by the insects. In the United States, severalhundreds of deaths each year are occasioned by the stings of bees orwasps which have been swallowed while drinking the contents of such abeverage container.

Furthermore, it has long been known to provide a container forcondiments, such as spices, salt, sugar or the like, with a 2-piececover or cap arranged so that one portion acts as a closure and theother portion acts as a spout. When the two elements are in oneposition, the openings are covered by portions of the closure, and whenthe closure is rotated, the openings are exposed and the contents can bedispensed.

The prior art in this field of closures or covers for beveragecontainers or devices to protect the contents, including devices toprevent access to the interior by insects or the like, are shown in thefollowing patents:

    ______________________________________                                        Thorn      U.S. Pat. No. 2,121,554                                                                         06/21/1938                                       Rivas      U.S. Pat. No. 3,160,309                                                                         12/08/1964                                       Gentile    U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,432                                                                         04/10/1973                                       Morehead   U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,326                                                                         08/27/1985                                       Kacalieff  U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,725                                                                         09/16/1986                                       Ayyoubi    U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,039                                                                         01/05/1988                                       Gabrys     U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,374                                                                         07/11/1989                                       Dimberio   U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,763                                                                         08/01/1989                                       Cerrone    U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,389                                                                         09/26/1989                                       Englert    U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,136                                                                         11/14/1989                                       Hall       U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,877                                                                         02/20/1990                                       Thibeqault U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,654                                                                         06/05/1990                                       Levine     U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,635                                                                         12/25/1990                                       Tucker     U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,525                                                                         06/30/1992                                       Kick       U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,338                                                                         12/01/1992                                       ______________________________________                                    

Of these, the most relevant, because they refer to the prior artrelating to insect-preventing closures are Morehead 4,537,326; Cerrone4,869,389; Hall 4,901,877 and Tucker 5,125,525.

While all of these devices have merit, they have distinguishing featureswhich make them either economically or commercially unsatisfactory and,more particularly, difficult for the consumer to use.

Thus the prior art fails to disclose the protective closure of thepresent invention, which can be easily and simply operated by theconsumer, which assures the sanity of the contents while yet permittingeasy removal thereof, which also provides for protection against accessto the interior of the container by unwanted insects, which includes atamper-evident device, and which can be manufactured economically sothat such device can be discarded along with the used container.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-evident andinsect-proof cover for disposable metal beverage containers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a closure for abeverage container which not only serves as an insect-preventing device,but also permits use and re-use of the container while the contents areintermittently consumed.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide atamper-evident re-closable insect-proof cover for a beverage container,which can be easily operated by one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a metal beverage container, such assoft drink containers, beer cans, fruit and vegetable cans, and the likeand, more particularly, for a permanently attached rotatable cover forsuch can for preventing insects from getting into the can.

The cover includes a circular or disc-shaped lid which is permanentlyand non-rotatably seamed to the top edge of the can in a fluid-tight andair-tight manner. This portion has an opening therein with a number ofparallel strips extending across the opening, relatively close to eachother. Affixed to the lid is a rotatable cover which has an openingtherein similar in shape to the opening in the lid, and whichcover-opening also has parallel strips across the opening. When theopening in the lid and the opening in the cover are in alignment, thestrips on one are disposed at right angles to the strips on the other.With the cover-opening rotated into alignment with the opening in thelid, the contents can flow therethrough, but very small insects cannotgain access past the screen to the interior of the container. Theassembly is also provided with a means to limit the amount of rotationof the cover with respect to the lid, and a tamper-indicatingarrangement to advise the user whether the can has been previouslyopened.

With the above and other objects in view, more information and a betterunderstanding of the present invention may be achieved by reference tothe following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in theaccompanying drawings a form thereof which is at present preferred,although it is to be understood that the several instrumentalities ofwhich the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andorganizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described:

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container with one embodimentof a closure of the present invention attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the closuredisplaced from the lid of the container.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the closure of FIG. 1 of the presentinvention assembled on a beverage container.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a beverage container withthe protective closure of FIG. 1 of the present invention attachedthereto, taken generally along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the non-rotatable lid-portion of theclosure of FIG. 1 of the present invention securely fixed to the top ofthe beverage container.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the rotatable cover-portion of FIG. 1 ofthe closure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken generally along line7--7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken generally along line8--8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the tamper-evident embossment in the covermember of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken generally along line10--10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the central pivot-portion of thenon-rotatable lid member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the central pivot-portion of therotatable cover member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of thebeverage container of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lid of the embodimentshown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cover of theembodiment shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the lid shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged localized view, in cross-section, of a portion ofthe rim of the cover and the groove of the lid, showing theinterengagement of lid and cover to provide fluid-tight seal underpressure.

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a metal beverage container 20,the upper end 21 of which is of a smaller diameter than the body of thecontainer with the sloping portion 22 being disposed intermediate thebody of the container and the upper end 21.

As can be seen particularly in FIGS. 4 and 7, the upper end 21 has adouble-crimp inter-connection with the flange 23 of a top lid 24.

The lid 24 is tightly sealed to the upper end 21 of the body of thecontainer, so as to provide an air-tight and fluid-tight connection.

The lid 24, which is non-rotatably fixed to the body of the can,generally includes a circular groove 25 which extends around theperiphery of the lid 24.

For the most part, the lid 24 is generally flat as at 26, with apivot-portion 27 in the center and a plurality of raised portions 28disposed between the central portion 27 and the peripheral groove 25.

The raised portions 28 are hemispherically shaped bumps as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. These hemispherical portions 28 provide contact points onwhich the rotatable cover 30 can rest to provide an easier slidingmovement between the cover 30 and the lid 24.

The lid 24 has a generally triangular opening 31 formed therein with aplurality of strips or metal strands 32 disposed across the opening 31,for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 11 and 12, the pivot 27 at the center 33of the lid 24 has a cone shaped depression 34 which provides an axisaround which the cover 30 can rotate, inasmuch as the cover 30 has acenter 35 which is generally a cone shaped depression 36 which nestsinto the depression 34. The bottom of the depression 34 has anupstanding portion 37 which fits into the recess 38 in the portion 39 ofthe cover 30. By appropriate arrangement of the members 37 and 39, as bya snap ring or by peening the ends or similar means of attachment, thecover 30 is rotatably secured to the lid 24. This inter-engagementbetween the lid 24 and the cover 30 can best be seen in FIG. 4. Theunderside of the cover 30 can be coated with a plastic or similarsealing material, which insures that no leakage takes place, and thisprovides for an air-tight and fluid-tight inter-connection between thecover and the lid.

As shown particularly in FIG. 8, the outer edge of the cover 30 has acurved portion 40 ending in a rim 41 which rides in the peripheralgroove 25 to provide a seal which prevents contamination of theoperative members located centrally of the groove 25.

The cover 30 also has a generally triangular shaped opening 42 formedtherein, quite similar in shape and outline to the opening 31 in the lid29, but in this case the strips or bars 43 are disposed generally atright angles to a radius (as contrasted to the bars 32 in thelid-opening 31 where the bars are disposed generally parallel to aradius).

As can best be seen in FIG. 3, this arrangement provides for anoverlapping of the bars 32 and the bars 43, and, therefore, they form ascreen of very small apertures or openings, sufficient to permit thepassage of the fluid contents from the container, but yet preventing theentry into the container of any small insects.

In FIG. 4, I have shown how a portion of the cover 30 rides on top ofthe hemispherical bumps 28 in the lid 24.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a arcuate groove 44 which isformed in the lid 24. This arcuate groove provides a track in which aprojection 45 of the cover 30 can ride between an "open" position 46 anda closed position 47. Each of the positions 46 and 47 have a furtherdepression in addition to the groove 45 to provide a "stop" to indicateto the user that the rotatable cover 30 is in either the open or theclosed position with respect to the lid 24.

Around the periphery of the opening 42, on the underside of the cover 30a continuous male rib 48 is formed, designed to nest in a mating femalegroove 49 disposed around the periphery of the opening 31 in the lid 24.This inter-engaging and mating arrangement of rib 48 and groove 49serves to provide a seal around the edges of the openings 31 and 42 whenthe two openings are in operative alignment.

A similar female groove or depression 50, identical in outline to themale rib 48 is formed in the surface of the lid 24 and the rib 48 restsin this depression when the lid and cover are in a closed relation, thussealing the two members against passage of fluid therebetween when thecontainer is closed.

Additionally, I have provided on the upper surface of the cover 30 apair of finger-engaging members 51 and 52. These members are formed in aplurality of arcs and placed on the cover 30 in such a way that thethumb and forefinger of the user can rest against one or the other sidesof these members to assist in turning the rotatable cover 30 withrespect to the non-rotatable lid 24.

Having thus described the details of the lid 24 and the cover 30, onecan see with reference to FIG. 4 that the two closure members (lid 24and cover 30) are inter-connected at the central pivots, and by theinter-engagement of the rib 48 with the depressions 49 or 50 provide theair-tight and fluid-tight assembly between cover and lid. When the coveris in the position generally shown in FIG. 3, the access to thecontainer (or conversely the port through which the fluid can beconsumed) by any unwanted insect, is prevented by the screen formed bythe strips 32 and 37. In this position the rib 48 is nesting in thedepression 49.

However, when the cover is turned (by the user of the container twistingthe cover by pressing against the finger-grips 51 and 52), it rotateswith the projection 45 riding in groove or track 44, until theprojection 45 moves from the position 46 in the lid 24 to the position47 in the lid 24. This is the closed portion, and the rib 48 is nestingin the depression 50.

To open the container, the cover is turned counter-clockwise (whenviewed in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) so that the projection 45 moves from theposition 47 to the position 46 in FIG. 5.

The unique tamper-evident arrangement is best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. Adepression 53 is formed in the cover 30 in a manner to provide thepleated or folded or stepped configuration to form a type of bellowswith a small round tip 54 at its center. When in the initial closedposition of the container (as when shipped from the factory of thefiller of the can) the tip 54 is in a depression 55. When the containeris first opened, the tip 54 rides on an inclined ridge 56 from position57 to position 58, and when doing so, the bellows are collapsed towardthe upper surface of the cover 30, indicating that the can has beenopened. Thus the user of the container can visually detect ifcontamination or use of the container has taken place.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-17, there is shown a preferred embodiment ofthe invention which provides fluid-tight seal between the lid and thecover even when the pressure in the container exceeds 90 pounds persquare inch (psi).

In FIGS. 13 and 14 there is shown a groove 25-a which is disposed aroundthe periphery of the lid 24-a in such a manner as to form a verticalwall with a concave depression which faces generally radially outwardlyfrom the center of the container. Thus the flat surface 26-a of the lidis raised above that portion 26-b of the lid which is closely adjacentthe edge where it is crimped to the container body.

The cover 30-a has at its outer edge a curved portion 40-a which bendsdownwardly to form a rim 41-a which may have a bead 41-b at the edge.This bead 41-b (or the rim 41-a) rests in the concave depression, asshown in FIG. 13, to form a fluid tight seal between lid and cover.

Because of the interrelation of bead and groove, rotation of the coverwith respect to the lid is possible even when the contents of thecontainer are under pressure. In fact, with increased pressure in thecontainer, the seal improves so that pressures as high as 90 psi or moreare possible without leaking of the contents from the container.

In other respects, the embodiment of FIGS. 13-17 operates and performsas described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-12.

It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied inother specific forms without departing from the spirit or specialattributes hereof, and it is therefore desired that the presentembodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative, and thereforenot restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather thanto the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto protect by Letters Patent are the following:
 1. A closure assemblyfor disposable metal beverage containers, said assembly including anon-rotatable lid with an opening,a rotatable cover with an opening,said cover pivotally secured to said lid so that said openings mayselectively be aligned or separated, grid bars across each of saidopenings with the grid bars in said cover disposed at an angle to thegrid bars in said lid to provide a screen when the openings are aligned,a guide-slot in said lid and a projection in said cover which can movein said guide-slot when said cover is pivotally rotated with respect tosaid lid, and a tamper-evident bellows in said cover renderedcollapsible by a portion of said lid when said cover is rotated withrespect to said lid, said lid including a radially-extending grooveclosely adjacent the periphery of said lid, a rim on said cover, saidrim having an in-turned edge disposed in said radially-extending groove.2. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein the in-turned edge of saidrim includes a bead which rests in said radially-extending groove. 3.The beverage container of claim 1 which is constructed to contain fluidunder pressure and wherein the in-turned edge, in cooperation with theradially-extending groove, creates a fluid-tight seal between said lidand said cover.
 4. The beverage container of claim 3 wherein thefluid-tight seal can withstand pressure in the container which exceeds70 psi.
 5. The beverage container of claim 3 wherein the fluid-tightseal can withstand pressure in the container which exceeds 90 psi.